Habitat Trouble for Lahontan Cutthroat Trout in Southwestern States
from the National Fish Habitat Partnership's 2015 Through a Fish's Eye Report
Summary
The Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi) is native to the Lahontan basin of northern Nevada, northeastern California, and southeastern Oregon. Like other native trout species, the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout is found in a wide variety of cold-water habitats including large terminal alkaline lakes, alpine lakes, slow meandering rivers, montane rivers, and small headwater tributary streams. They currently occupy only about 10 percent of their historic range primarily due to habitat fragmentation from dams and water diversions, changes in water flow patterns, loss of riparian and aquatic habitat quality, severe drought conditions, and the introduction of non-native trout species. One population in Walker Lake, Nevada, [...]
Summary
The
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (
Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi) is native to the Lahontan basin of northern Nevada, northeastern California, and southeastern Oregon. Like other native trout species, the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout is found in a wide variety of cold-water habitats including large terminal alkaline lakes, alpine lakes, slow meandering rivers, montane rivers, and small headwater tributary streams. They currently occupy only about 10 percent of their historic range primarily due to habitat fragmentation from dams and water diversions, changes in water flow patterns, loss of riparian and aquatic habitat quality, severe drought conditions, and the introduction of non-native trout species. One population in Walker Lake, Nevada, has been recently lost due to increased salinity from water diversions for agriculture and drought.
The U.S Geological Survey (USGS) is partnering with the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) to produce the 2015 report entitled, "Through a Fish's Eye: The Status of Fish Habitats in the United States 2015". The information contained within this item is a product of NFHP. The Bureau is neither responsible nor liable for the accuracy or the use of the scientific content within this item. This content is considered preliminary pending subsequent review and approval.
